The South Sudan government has ordered an immediate shutdown of social media sites like Facebook and TikTok within the country.
The National Communication Authority (NCA), the country’s telecommunication regulator, announced that the ban would be effective for up to three months, starting Wednesday night.
The NCA explained that the decision was prompted by recent “upheaval in Sudan, which has exposed South Sudanese citizens to unprecedented levels of graphic violence shared on social media.” Specifically, the NCA cited disturbing images and videos of violence faced by South Sudanese citizens in Wad Medani, Sudan, as a primary concern.
The NCA argued that the social media ban was necessary to curb the spread of violent content, particularly videos depicting brutal attacks on women and children. The authorities invoked Sections 9(g)(i) and 34(6) of the National Communication Act of 2012 to justify the action.
However, the decision has sparked widespread concern among social media users and civil society activists in South Sudan, with many viewing the move as a violation of citizens’ rights.
Ter Manyang, a prominent civil society activist, criticized the government for “infringing upon the freedom and rights guaranteed under Articles 24 and 25 of South Sudan’s transitional constitution.”
“MTN and Zain, the telecommunications companies operating in South Sudan, have received directives from the NCA to suspend and restrict access to Facebook and TikTok for 90 days. This action represents a violation of citizens’ rights,” Manyang said.
He also warned that the move could tarnish the image of the current administration and called for unity among South Sudanese citizens.
“I urge all South Sudanese to unite against the current administration and any potential future leaders who seek to limit their rights to access social media,” Manyang added.
Edmund Yakani, another well-known civil society activist, also criticized the ban, describing it as unacceptable. He suggested that the NCA should have focused on blocking individual accounts responsible for spreading hate speech, misinformation, and violent content, rather than imposing a blanket ban on entire platforms.
“The South Sudan National Communication Authority should have directed telecommunication companies to block specific social media accounts promoting hostility, disinformation, or inhumane content, rather than shutting down Facebook and TikTok entirely,” Yakani said.
He further emphasized the negative impact the shutdown could have on individuals who rely on social media for work and business. “Blocking or banning these platforms for 90 days will have serious consequences for those who earn a living online,” he said. “The NCA should reconsider this decision and explore more targeted measures to address the issue.”
Yakani concluded by urging the NCA to review its approach and focus on restricting individual accounts responsible for human rights violations or promoting violence, rather than punishing the South Sudanese population.